Chapter 6: Rescue Mission

Marco's POV

It's already enough that Andrey is back for him. He can't get enough of his father but Sarah shouldn't be any part of it. It could be a ploy to get his attention. To threaten him back into the grasp of his ruthless father. But they definitely shouldn't have gone for Sarah. She's innocent.

As Sarah doesn't respond over the phone, Marco is left with no choice but to go find her. With a hint of background music he heard over the phone before the gunshots, he can tell that she was in a bar.

He only hopes that he gets there on time.

The realization troubles his mind. He can't suffer this pain all over again. It happened once in the past. Once enough to shatter him to become the man he is--unknown to anyone. Once enough to make him a man that even his late mother feared.

He has to find Sarah and save her. Thereafter, whatever thing he thinks he feels for her has to die. To protect her, most especially from him. Never fall in love–that was the first Mafia code his father made sure he learned. The hard way.

He picks up his phone as he drives back to the main streets in search of a bar. Sarah has to be in one of them.

"Little brother, I see you called to check on me. Need I say I love your cooperation on our little bargain? Consider it as a start. I'll relay your message to Father," Andrey speaks at the other end of the phone while Marco nearly overruns a stray cat. His brother sure thinks the world is all about him. How clueless.

But, Andrey is the only one in town that could give him firsthand information about Mafia activities related to his father.

"Stop pretending like you know nothing. What's father up to?" Marco spits angrily. Every passing minute dreads being Sarah's last, and he doesn’t like it.

"Oh, brother. Aren’t we over this already? Father just wants to be sure you're safe…"

Marco interrupts his brother,

"Big Tom? Are they still in town? They're out to get me. Why can't they just come after me instead of going through loose ends?" Marco breathes angrily.

"Frankly speaking brother, I've no idea what you're talking about but now that I'm the proposed leader of the family, all thanks to you, you need not worry about it. That’s on me. Enjoy your new life!" Andrey drops the call abruptly leaving Marco in an unending maze of who could be after him, brave enough to attack Sarah, if not his father?

There’s a bar ahead. Almost bashing his car against a pole supporting the neon board, he pulls over and rushes out.

There's loud music playing in the bar. A stripper in red lingerie crosses his path, attempting to dance with him. Forcefully, he pulls her away. He doesn't need to spend another minute here to realize that he got into the wrong bar.

Hastily, he rushes out and zooms off. His hands are trembling as he decides to dial Sarah again.

"Pick up your phone…" he whispers nervously, his attention barely on the road.

The phone rings and beeps. No answer. Dammit. They got her. No doubt. His breathing is getting heavy.

But, a glimmer of hope arises. He can hear loud screams. It has to be that one ahead. He steps on the break abruptly almost smashing his head against the steering wheel and heads into the bar.

It's a wreck. Broken glasses crush under his soles as he scans the mess of a place.

If only he could just see her walking up to him, call his name and say she's fine, his misery would end for the night.

"Sarah!" he yells in the empty bar, hoping her body isn't one of those he sees on the floor.

The music is still loud. Whoever did this is sure to die.

He yells her name again, approaching the restroom. His eyes are searching every corner as he kicks the already broken door open, having the “ladies” tag.

“Sarah?” his brows contort. Someone is laying on the floor and there’s a trickle of blood on her forehead. 

He rushes towards the body. He tries to lift her body when he feels a hit on his head.

“What are you?” a voice threatens. Marco staggers back up in pain, ready to unleash his wrath on his new prey.

“Stay away from her. She has nothing to do with this,” he tries to plead, buying himself enough time to launch a calculated attack.

“Who the hell are you?” the man confronts him while Sarah groans in a corner.

Marco is losing patience with all the questioning as Sarah loses more blood.

“I won’t repeat myself. Stay away from her,” Marco warns again. The man instead aims the pistol at her, making Marco grow angrier.

He kicks his arm, causing the gun to drop. The only weapon in the room lies further away from them both. It’s certain one person has to die. Marco knows better, as he reaches for it first, drilling two bullets into his heart. He is just on time. Sarah’s skin is still warm. She’s alive.

***

There she is. Safe. Any moment from now and she’ll be awake. He has to let her know for next time—to warn her.

He watches her lay safely on the couch of her apartment, a damp towel on her forehead.

She’s moving. Immediately, he approaches her kneeling beside the couch and cupping his hands over her delicate face. A whisper escapes his breath,

“Sarah,”

She jolts up, staring at him like she’d seen a ghost. She must be scared. All that Marco wants is to be there for her. To protect her from any harm that might come her way.

“You’re safe now,” he assures as he manages to keep her calm.

“What happened to me? Why am I here? How did you…”

“shhh…now that’s enough. I got a prescription from the pharmacy. You can vet them if you like but it works for all sorts of pain.”

Marco hesitates, pacing in the dining, wondering how he’ll break it to her. She has to stay away from him henceforth.

She’s wearing a blank stare as she swallows the pills.

Is she scared of him?

“Thanks for helping me, Marco” Sarah says, making him halt. Certainly, she isn’t scared.

“I was just returning a favor. Avoid walking at night,” Marco warns and immediately turns to leave. He has to leave her there. Kill all that he feels for her, now that he can.

He needs to schedule another meeting with Andrey. Whoever was behind the attack needs to be punished. Just as he reaches for the door, she calls out,

“Wait”

He shouldn’t listen to her. But he can’t just ignore her. He feels her palm locked with his from behind,

“Stay with me, tonight.”

The texture of her skin is about to make him betray his decision.  He knows he has to let her go.

“You’re better off alone. Trust me,” he replies coldly, freeing his palm and walking out of the door without looking back. He’ll be dammed to turn around. He can’t bear to see her expression. For once, he has to do the right thing.

“Who was behind it?” he demands from his brother, displayed on a large screen having a video call. A bottle of fine wine and a cocktail cup in his hands, as he pours himself a drink.

“Nothing important as I expected. We had the wrong information. Big Tom is here in Russia. He has no business over there after all. Father handled it quite well. I suspect it must be some local Ukrainian mobs.”

Marco exhales heavily.

“Can I request a favor?” Marco asks.

“Spill, bother. Anything for you.”

“I want them all dead. Local mobs or not. Spare no one,” he says without blinking.

“Surprise…surprise. Run from the Mafia but their blood runs in your veins. I’m pleased to announce that it has been taken care of long before this call. I’ve eyes everywhere like I promised.”

Marco reclines in his seat and switches off the video call, now that he’s certain Sarah is safe.

He now has a penthouse to his name and a few cars. All thanks to Andrey, who would go to any length to keep him away from accepting their father’s proposal. As far as bribing him into never coming back. What Andrey doesn’t know is that Marco has other plans.